[TenTec] Orion2 Problem with indication of the analog meter

[Bill Tippett <btippett@alum.mit.edu>]

N6AHA:

>There is no fix that I know of for the S-meter readings or the analog power
readings. I try to remember the S-meter corrections that I have on my
website and adjust the readings in my head, or I use the N4PY program which
is much closer to the truth, especially for signals more than S-9.  On the
power output, just look at the PWR setting...it is always correct within 2
or 3 watts at all power levels no matter what the analog meter says.  I have
talked to Ten Tec about this, and they read this e-mail reflector, so they
have seen me comment on it many times.  Maybe in a future firmware update
they will fix it.

        Very good summary Ron.  Ten-Tec is aware of this
problem but I'm not sure we'll see a fix anytime soon.  I
believe the following from the Orion V2 firmware FAQ applies
to Orion II as well.

**********************************************
At times my S-meter doesn't seem very accurate, why is that?

Precision arithmetic is used to calculate the S-meter measurements 
and the (digital) output is extremely
accurate. The digital S-meter readings can be read over the serial 
port using the ?S command. The
 s-meter numeric precision is roughly 1/10 of a dB.

The analog meter is the analog representation of the digital S-meter 
result. The meter accuracy is affected
by two things. First, the meter is electromechanical and subject to 
manufacturing and environmental
variations. Second, the DSP/Logic board drives the meter through an 
8-bit Digital-To-Analog converter
which limits the meter to 256 steps.
***************************************************

        The PWR control seems to be fairly accurate
except at the lowest settings.  The minimum power I
can set on my Orion is about 4 Watts at a setting of 1.

                                73,  Bill  W4ZV
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